WES RELIEF
Skipper rescues Ranieri with late equaliser
CAPTAIN Wes Morgan rescued Leicester from another setback in their troubled season last night with the late equaliser that kept his side in the FA Cup.
Morgan had endured a fairly awkward night at the back but he showed his worth at the other end with four minutes left.
Leicester had been on the verge of adding another chastening chapter to a story of an unravelling campaign by succumbing to Derby but Morgan rose supremely to head in Demarai Gray’s corner and take this East Midlands derby to a replay.
After tinkering to little effect in recent weeks, Claudio Ranieri had promised a return to the methods that won his team the title, and he was true to his word by selecting a 4-4-2 as close as possible to last season’s line-up.
Ben Chilwell was given an unorthodox role on the left wing, with Riyad Mahrez on the bench after returning from the Africa Cup of Nations less than 48 hours earlier. But otherwise there was a very familiar feel to Leicester’s team.
Shinji Okazaki supported Jamie Vardy up front and the back four was the one which had ground out clean sheet after clean sheet from February onwards.
Within eight minutes Leicester had the lead, though it could not be attributed to any incisive play on their part. Robert Huth met Marc Albrighton’s corner but what followed was comical. Chris Baird nudged the ball back towards his goal where Darren Bent was in position to clear. Except he didn’t. Under no pressure, Bent sliced his clearance horrifically into his own net from two yards out. Cue gags about Bent’s aptitude for finishing.
It looked like worse was to come when Bent miskicked a good chance set up by Johnny Russell’s burst but the Derby striker atoned in the 21st minute. Kasper Schmeichel punched a corner to the feet of Will Hughes, who took a touch and floated in a cross. Bent beat Wes Morgan to glance a fine header beyond the dive of Schmeichel.
Scott Carson in the other goal did better soon after when Okazaki broke and let fly from distance. Carson pulled off a super save to tip the ball over.
With Hughes to the fore, Derby began to gain territorial advantage and five minutes before the interval McClaren’s side went ahead.
Leicester’s defence, so porous this campaign, failed to cover themselves in glory. Danny Simpson’s header clear was too weak and Craig Bryson seized the initiative, bursting past Andy King and Morgan to create a shooting chance in the box, and his left-foot strike was true and well-placed.
Ranieri replaced Christian Fuchs with Gray at half-time and the winger twice went close to equalising within five minutes. He should have done much better than fire a loose ball straight at Carson from six yards, then he hit the post with a neat curling shot. The rebound fell to Okazaki, whose first attempt was blocked by Bradley Johnson and second was again to close to Carson.
Ranieri, in bobble hat, puffer coat, and trainers, wondered how his side were not level.
They nearly went further behind before the hour. Baird robbed Gray and delivered a brilliant cross that Russell met at the far post, but his header rippled the side-netting.
Vardy had a chance to equalise with 20 minutes left when presented a free header six yards out but not for the first time Carson was grateful the ball flew straight at him.
Bent said: ‘It was not a great start. I thought, “What have I done here?”. But fair play to the lads for the way they rallied round.’